Developing Performance Specifications for High-Performance Concrete: Technical Report
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2021-06-01
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Edition:September 2017–April 2022
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Abstract:In the past, achieving high strength was considered by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) as the main design criteria for formulating high-performance concrete (HPC). TxDOT considers mix design options 1–5 in Item 421 as HPC, and these options were developed for alkali silica reaction (ASR) mitigation and not for other durability aspects. Very little work has been done to determine if these options are adequate to provide long-term durability often needed when HPC is specified. The main objective of this project was to develop performance specifications for HPC bridge deck concrete to ensure high performance in terms of durability. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) conducted a combination of field investigation and laboratory evaluation to achieve this objective. TTI used both conventional and innovative new lab testing methods to determine the key durability performance characteristics (i.e., addressing chloride and freeze-thaw durability issues based on formation factor-based transport properties, cracking potential based on both autogenous and drying shrinkage considerations, ASR evaluation using rapid and reliable test methods, etc.) for developing performance specifications. TTI then developed specific prescriptive requirements to formulate a wide variety of prescriptive mixtures that can meet the durability requirements matching different exposure conditions. TTI has developed a practice-ready performance evaluation tool that addresses three critical durability parameters of HPC mixtures: ASR, shrinkage-based cracking potential, and chloride-induced rebar corrosion. The use of the tool serves as a combined approach for both performance- and prescriptive-based concrete specifications for HPC bridge deck concrete. This method could potentially encourage contractors to effectively use these finetuned prescriptive HPC mixtures without the need to conduct additional long-duration testing and ensure making long-lasting durable concrete and save taxpayers’ dollars.
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